Titled 'A Christian Overview of Welfare Reform and Cuts in Public Spending', the letter said: "We are concerned that the theology behind many cuts and reforms serves to undermine fundamental principles of mutual care that are basic to our vision of a good society."

The signatories also expressed their concern over the imbalance in the UK economy to the detriment of those in the north compared to the south, particularly the South East.

"They're not just dealing with figures in Whitehall, this is having an impact on people every day and the poorest are paying the highest," he said.

" Welfare reforms mean the poorest people are getting poorer, while the richest people are getting richer – and that’s a scandal.

“In Bradford we have 38,000 children living below the poverty line. That is something we cannot remain silent about.”

The church leaders were also angry with the way those on benefits were being stigmatised by politicians.

"We are.. disturbed that the political rhetoric that is increasingly used of benefits claimants, "scrounger" and "feckless" to name but two, stigmatises welfare in such a way that those who are in genuine need become reluctant to make claims, to the detriment of themselves, their families and the commuities in which they live."